No quick fix for Dundee United's woes, admits boss Peter Houston

THE Tannadice side are sitting second bottom in the SPL but Houston has his eye on a European spot.

PETER HOUSTON has insisted he won’t rebuild his Dundee United team overnight.

The Tannadice manager is working with a reduced first-team playing squad after the summer exits of mainstays such as Paul Dixon, Scott Robertson, Dusan Pernis and Garry Kenneth.

And Houston believes his new-look side will take time to gel before clicking into top gear as they aim to reproduce the sort of form which has guaranteed they haven’t finished outwith the top four in recent seasons.

Last night he said: “We are working with the smallest squad we’ve ever had.

“You keep cutting and I understand the board have to cut because there is no money there. You have to make cuts every year.

“It’s now the third year in a row we’ve been cut and it’s important they do that to balance the books. But what people have to remember is it will take time to rebuild.

“We’ve good, young players but some are not ready yet to play every week. The players’ attitude is fine but we’re disappointed with the last few matches for obvious reasons.

“The league shows we are second bottom but we were in that bottom area for a while last season and got out of it. If we win a few games we think we can be in second or third place again.”

Houston remains confident United can bounce back from their early-season slump.

He said: “I understand why the supporters are frustrated. I think it’s because the standard Dundee United have set over the last number of years has been so high.

“It is going to take time because what has happened is that the players have lost a bit of confidence and we’re going to have to build it up again.

“But what we do have here is a decent bunch of boys who work their socks off and don’t give in easily.”